August 2013 - Going into Fifth grade

Ava sighed as she put the phone down. She was excited that Finn was finally back; she was lonely that summer. She just had no idea how to do small talk.

“Ava! Hurry up!” her mother called down from the front door. Ava got up from the couch and smoothed out the pink dress she was wearing. It was someone’s wedding today, probably a friend of her mother.

For once, both her parents were waiting for her. Her mother stood elegantly in a long black dress with her hair tied into a bun.

Ava smiled at her father who stood next to her mother. His kind face was a stark contrast to the scowl that was constantly on her mother’s face. For once, however, the scowl was replaced with a rarely seen soft smile. Directed at her father, not at her, of course.

“Ready Ava?” her father asked. She nodded, smoothing out her dress once more.

“Let’s go then,” he said, shutting the front door behind them. Her mother took the wheel, and her parent chatted in the front. Her father directed a few comments and questions towards her, but she otherwise remained silent.

~~~

As expected, they arrived earlier than the other guests. They met up with the mother of the bride who hugged Ava’s mom and shook hands with her father.

She knelt down slightly and grinned at her. “Ava! You’ve gotten so big! Did you miss me?” she coos, reaching over to pinch her cheek.

Ava steps back to avoid the contact. “I have never seen you in my life” she deadpans, and a brief look of shock crosses the woman’s face. The comment earns her a sharp pinch from her mother that no one else notices. Her mother laughs nervously.

“I guess it has been a while,” she says. Her father cleared her throat and Ava felt her face heat up. When not even her father was comforting her, she knows that she has messed up.

She didn’t actually think what she said was rude in any way. She was just stating the truth; she doesn’t remember meeting this woman ever in her life.

They entered the grand hall that could have passed for the inside of a palace. Ava didn’t care for any of the beautiful decoration, however. She would rather be at school than here. At least Finn was at school.

As people began to arrive, her parents eventually left her side to socialize. She looked at them. Her dad spoke and laughed with his usual charisma. Her mother also seemed to be comfortable and enjoying herself.

At least that’s what it looked like at first.

Looking closer, Ava noticed beads of sweat forming on her mother’s forehead and the back of her neck. During the brief moments that someone wasn’t talking to her, her mother seemed to be breathing heavily - almost panting.

At one point her mother sat down at their table and wiped the sweat with a wet towel. There was a pained look on her face.

“Are-” Ava started, but couldn’t get the rest out. Her mother looked over and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes? What is it?” she asked, rubbing her temples.

Are you okay? Ava wanted to ask, but she couldn’t get the words to come out. She shook her head instead. Her mother sighed as she was called over.

People filled up the gigantic hall and Ava felt very cramped. Her head became clouded because of the loud music and people talking. She wanted to cover her ears and scream.

To avoid that, she decided to step out. She could sort of hear them still, but it was less cramped and definitely not as bad.

The salty sea smell was refreshing and she sat on the grass, hugging her knees to her chest. Her mother would probably yell at her for getting her dress dirty, but she didn’t care at the moment. She could deal with her mother’s scolding; she couldn’t deal with crowds and loud places.

She regretted not bringing a book. Her mind wandered. She wondered if Finn had any interesting stories. She wondered if Dylan Cruz would leave her alone this year. She wondered if her mother would pack her lunch instead of giving her something that was obviously made by their cook.

“You left me,” her father said from behind her, with feigned hurt. She watched as he sat beside her.

“It was crowded and loud” she muttered.

“I understand. I was kidding, sweetie” he said.

They sat in silence before Ava spoke up. “Why can’t you stay at home?” she asked.

“I wish I could kiddo” he sighed reaching over to rub her head. She pulled away.

“That doesn’t answer my question” she pointed out. He sighed again.

“You know the answer to that, Ava,” he said. She knew he was right and it frustrated her.

Work obviously she thought. She knew that, but she didn’t like it. Her mother worked from home. Why couldn’t he?

“Why does she hate me so much?” Ava choked out. She hated how desperate she sounded, but she couldn’t help it.

“You’re more alike than you think,” he said.

Angry tears began forming in her eyes. “What does that even mean!?” she shouted.

He opened his mouth to answer, but his phone suddenly started ringing.

“We’ll talk later,” he said, walking back into the hall.

“No we won’t…” she murmured to the air after he left. She wiped her tears but even more continued to fall down.